Heinrich: No. 7 Porsche Penske Lineup “Quite Versatile”

Photo: Juergen Tap/Porsche

Laurin Heinrich believes all three drivers in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport entry will be able to lean on each other, with each bringing varying levels of expertise to the table.

Newly minted Porsche factory driver Heinrich, the 2024 IMSA GTD Pro champion, is set for only his second outing in the Porsche 963 in next weekend’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 24-year-old German joins two-time and defending Rolex 24 overall winner Felipe Nasr and fellow former Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer in the GTP entry for the Florida endurance classic.

Heinrich, who is confirmed for the three long-distance races in the car, was the only addition to Porsche Penske’s lineup for 2026 amid the factory squad’s withdrawal from the FIA World Endurance Championship that reduced the driver pool from eight to six pilots.

“It’s a huge honor to be among the six drivers that will get the chance to be in PPM for 2026,” he told Sportscar365. “Obviously I had my first chance in Bahrain last year, which was a good first step for me.

“I could get a first taste of what it means to be in a factory program as a driver.

“For sure it’s a lot of new stuff for me.

“In Bahrain I just touched the first bit of factory racing and now I’ll have the [IMSA] endurance races to get more experience and I think it will be really valuable.

“I hope I can build on my previous IMSA experience. That will definitely help me because, in Bahrain, it was not only my first Hypercar race but my first time racing in Bahrain and in the WEC.

“This is a small advantage I see now being in IMSA with PPM and it’s a huge honor for me to now also be a full factory driver and to race with Felipe and Julien for the big endurance races.”

Heinrich revealed he hadn’t been in the Porsche 963, which has received an extensive aero upgrade, since the WEC finale, having missed November’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway due to competing in the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

His first laps in the updated LMDh car came in Friday’s pair of opening test sessions at the Roar Before the Rolex 24.

“I hope I can continue where I left off,” he said on Thursday prior to the start of on-track action. “It’s good that we have the Roar [this weekend].

“It’s good to get up to speed and feel the car on the American tracks with the new aero kit and new tire compound from Michelin.

“There’s a lot of new stuff. I think I’m quite an adaptable driver, so I think that will help me and I have great team around me that supports me a lot, knowing that I’m new.

“It’s a very open exchange. I’m not afraid to ask any questions or anything what I’m not sure about.”

While being the driver with the least amount of prototype experience in the Porsche Penske lineup, Heinrich is hoping to learn from both of his co-drivers, while also lending lessons of IMSA racing to Andlauer, who is set for his first full season WeatherTech Championship campaign.

“Our driver lineup is quite versatile,” said Heinrich. “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, in lacking experiences in some regards.

“So we’re having a very open exchange trying to help each other because in the end, it’s endurance racing, it’s a team sport.

“If one driver finds a tenth or two, the whole team finds a tenth or two.

“It’s a really nice group we have, a very good dynamic. Felipe has won this race multiple times. For sure for Julien and me, there’s a lot we can learn from him.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John